Folding chair



Feb. 2, 1932.

- J. E. BALES FOLDING CHAIR Filed Aug. 9, 1929 INVENTOR. l1

Jrnzslflales A TTORNEYS which is provided with means or permitting is in folded Patented a, 2, 1 32 JAMES E. BALES, OF AURORA, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO PATENT OFFICE i LYON METAL PRODUCTS, INCOR- PORATED OF AURORA, ILLIIIOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS FOLDING 0mm Application filed August ,9, im. Serial 110. 884,584.

This invention relatesft folding chairs, and is a division of applirition', Serial No. 384,583, filedconcurrently herewith.

The primary object of the invention is ;to

rovide a metal folding chair,.which has a aek rest of substantial pro ortions, and

mobility of the back ,rest to-allow the chair to be folded into avery compact structure and substantially into the normal plane of the chair main frame.

Another object is to provide a chair having' a main frame, to which rear legs are pivotally connected, and which has a back rest operatively connected to the rear legs and to the main frame to permit relative movement of the back rest -for folding the chair into-limited proportions. I

I Another object is to provide a chair having a back rest of substantlal proportions, which is operatively connected to the chair, whereby the back rest will be in substantially the normal plane of the chair frame osition. Another object is to provide a chair havin a back rest which comprises vertical bac slats or rails fastened to a cross member, the

when the chair upper ends of the slats or rails having pivotal engagement with the chair frame and the cross member having slidable movement relative to certain of the chair legs.

A further object is to provide a .back rest for folding chairs, which has its slats or rails inserted in slots or openings provided in the main frame, and which is provided with means for flexibly holding the rails or slats in proper operative position.

A still further object is to provide a back rest for chairs, which'has its slats orrails extending through openings in a part of the chair, sprin means being arranged in the ends of the s ats or rails to permit the slats to be readily inserted in position, but preventing removal thereof.

Other objects and advantages will herei flafter appear."

The invention comprises 'ingeneral'afoldingchair having a tubular main frame. -Rear 1 legs'are pivoted to the mainframe, and a seat is pivoted to the main frameand' has sliding I engagement with the rear legs to permit the rear 1e s and the seat to be folded in substantially t e normal plane of the main frame. A back rest comprlsing vertical slats or railsis connected to a cross bar which has sliding movement Withthe rear legs. The upper ends of the slats extend through openings in the main frame, and spring members are-provided in the upper ends of these slats for pivotally holding the slats in position relative to the main frame. The springs have. portions thereof extending through slots in the ends of the slats'and permit the slats to be readily inserted in positlon by pressing the extending ends of the springs inwardly. When the slats are in position, the ends of the springs project through the slots in the slats and engage the inside of the main frame folding of all these parts without distorting the fixed or predetermined shape of the members forming the backrest. When the chair is collapsed, the pivotal connection of the back rest with the main frame and the sliding movement with the rear legs permit the back to lie in the normal plane of the chair frame when the chair is folded.

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5.5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a detail longitudinal sectional may be formed of tubular material are pivotcarry pins 2 ;tion shown in Fig. 6.

ed to the frame member at 16, and may be connected together by means of a rung 17 also made of tubular material. A seat 18, pivotally connected to the main frame 11 at 19, has rearwardly extending arms-20 which 1. These pins have sliding engagement with a slot 22 formed in each of the rear legs to permit the seat to be foldedwhen the chair is in the collapsed or foldedposi- A tubular cross member has fittings 24 secured to its ends,'and pins 25, Fig. 5, on the\v fittings engage and have sliding engagement -with oppositely'alined slots 26 which are formed in the rear legs 15. Back slats or rails 27 have their lower ends connected to the cross member 23, and their upper ends 28, Fig. 3,'extendin'g through slots 29 formed-in the portion 13 of the main frame. The slats or'rails 27 are slightly less in cross-sectional area than the holes or slots 29, thereby perery of the slats is less than the spring 30,

mitting the slats or rails to have free or pivotal movement relative to the portion 13 of the frame. In'other words,

circumference or periphery ofthe holes 29 to ermit pivotal movement of the slats and the ack rest during foldin and unfolding of the chair; A ig. 3, havinga coiled portion 31 has its free ends bent to provide clips 32 which project through slots 33 formed in the upper ends 28 of the slats or rails 27. The springs 30 are arranged in the slats and then the upper endsof the slats are inserted in the slots or openings 33 in the main frame member.

"The bent ends of the spring which form the clips 32 are rounded or tapered at their upper ends to allow them to spring inwardly when the members 27 are placedin position.

The lower ends of these. clips are substantially straight to form shoulders 34 which spring 'putwardly and engage the inside of the frame at thesides of the'slots when the members 27 are in place. These clips also prevent the members 27 from being withdrawn from the slots'33. The spring 30 is substantially as long as the diameter of the tubular frame and just touches the inside of the frame at its top and bottom edges to prevent the members 27 from rattling. The manner in which the slats or rails 27 are supported in the main frame securely keeps the" rails in locked position and provides a pivotal ular 'rod or rung 14. Rear legs 15 which the p'eri-phconnection between the rails and the frame. The cross members 23 and the slats 27, which are curved to conform with thecontour of the body, provide a back rest of substantial proportion for the chair.

Rubber feet 50 may be inserted in the bottom of the tubular legs 12 and 15, if desired. The construction of the back rest is clearly shown and described in the aforesaid co'-pending applicatiomof which this is a division, but the specific construction of the back rest is claimed only in the present ap lication.

The invention provides a c rigid and durable, and which has a comfortable back rest of substantial proportions. The particular manner in which the back rails or slats are pivoted to the frame, and the method in which the cross rail slidably engages the rear legs provide suflicient movement to the back rest to permit the chair to be'collapsed or folded in .a relatively small 1 members 27 preferably of tubular nature, a

very simple and economical construction is provided, and which. also permits of the parate conformation of each back member 27 whereby to provide various shapes of back supports. In providing a back rest of substantially rigid or fixed shape such as the members 27 it has been thought advis able to include means for shiftably connecting these back members to the frame 13 and to the rear frame members 15 so as to perair which is Y I mit the folding of these chair-parts, and

this has been carried out in 'a partlcularly simple way in the present invention by forming. the back members of separate tubes or pieces and making them separate and inde: pendently positioned at theitop and at the ottom to the frame 13 and to the side legs 15.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of'the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacr ficing any of the advantages thereof, and the right is hereby reserved to make all such changes as fairly fall within the .scope of the following claims:

1. In a folding, chair, the combination with a main frame member providing feet -and'providing an upstanding back suppo mg frame, said main frame member bein of tubular construction and having openings therein, a second frame member p1vota11y connected to the main frame member for providing additional feet, and a seat pivotally interconnecting the main frame and the second frame member and a back rest for the main frame, including tubular members each having a portion of smaller cross-section than the mainframe member and the corresponding openin and ilermanentl in-. serted in one of said oles, t e inserte end of said tubularmember having registering spaced-apart apertures, and a spring clip having a bowed portion and two resilient legs for pivotally and permanently uniting the tubular member in its opening in the main frame member, the bowed ortion contacting the inner wall of the tu ular member and the resilient legs extending outward- 1y through the opposed openings m the end of the tubular member and voverlying the interior marginal edges of the hole in the main frame member whereby tohold the two members in permanent pivotal relation while preventing the rattling of the members due to their loose pivotal connection.

2. In a folding chair having certain portions of tubular-construction, a loose pivotal connection between two of said tubular members comprising a hole formed in one of said I tubular members, the othernof said tubular members forming the connection being of less cross-section than the cross-section of thehole and being inserted in said hole, and

- locking'means independent of each of said members and inserted and enclosed in said members for pivotally interconnecting said members, said means preventing rattling of the parts thuspivotally interconnected.

In witness whereof, I havehereunto subscribed my name,

JAMES E. BALES, 

